In February 2025, Resource Matters coordinated a joint letter signed by more than 65 civil society organizations from the DRC, Europe, and beyond, calling on the European Commission to immediately end its involvement in Rwanda’s critical raw materials sector. Read the letter here.
Citing findings from the UN Group of Experts that over 150 tons of coltan are smuggled monthly into Rwanda, we warned that the EU-Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in 2024, risks legitimizing illicit mineral flows, fueling conflict in eastern Congo, and undermining the EU’s values and due diligence frameworks. We urged the Commission to terminate the MoU, suspend any assessments of strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), and strengthen supply chain accountability.
We have now received a formal response from Geza Strammer, Acting Director for Africa at DG INTPA, on behalf of the European Commission. The Commission acknowledges Rwanda’s role in the regional conflict and confirms that the MoU has not progressed toward a roadmap and is currently under review, as announced by the High Representative/Vice President in February 2025. The letter reaffirms the EU’s diplomatic engagement, its call for Rwanda to withdraw its forces from the DRC, and its emphasis on responsible sourcing and traceability in raw materials partnerships.
While we welcome this recognition and the current pause in MoU implementation, we reiterate that stronger and more decisive action is urgently needed:
The EU has committed to a values-based approach in its global partnerships. Upholding this commitment means going beyond a policy review—and taking concrete steps to ensure that mineral diplomacy does not come at the cost of peace, justice, and accountability in the Great Lakes region.
